Feedlots are expected to bid up the price of feeder cattle so that margins in the deferred positions cover variable costs
Glacier FarmMedia – For the week ending Jan. 11, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were up $15-$20 per hundredweight compared to the week ending Dec. 21. In eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, quality packages of steers 800 pounds and heavier traded $20-$25 per cwt. higher compared to three weeks earlier. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle […] Read moreBeef cattle
Corn intercrops can work
Glacier FarmMedia – Intercropping can have significant benefits for extended grazing cattle on shoulder seasons, says Emma McGeough, associate professor in the department of animal sciences at the University of Manitoba. She and her research team of graduate students have been working for the last number of years on the intercropping of corn for fall […] Read more
Canfax report
This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattle Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Fed cattle prices rise Fed steer and heifer prices started the new year on a strong note. […] Read more
Removing extra teats is usually a good idea if possible
The other day I saw supernumerary teats in the middle or intercalary position — between the normal teats on an udder — on a bred heifer close to calving and it got me thinking. Are these of much significance and what have I done with them in practice? Are there many negatives or can we […] Read more
Winter care helps lead to healthy spring calves
Mineral supplements are called the ‘superhero’ of cattle diets, but making sure the right ones are used is important
Glacier FarmMedia – As snow flies across the Prairies, calves are shipped and bulls are removed from the cow herd. Winter feeding is next on the list and good nutrition is vital to ensure the health and growth of calves and bred cows. Stephanie Hansen, professor of animal science at Iowa State University, notes the […] Read more
Beef sector works on SRM rules
REGINA — The Canadian beef sector continues to push for harmonized specified risk material standards with the United States. A new risk analysis has been done that stakeholders hope will result in a regulatory policy that helps them be more competitive. The industry has been working toward the goal of harmonization since the country was […] Read more
The arts can help encourage personal reflection in agriculture
In the Australian play entitled Kick Off Ya Boots, the actors and characters are farmers who talk about the farm with love and humour while finding their own path within their own fence lines. One deeply moving scene starts with farmer Harry: “Sometimes it’s like I’m driving a truckload of cattle down a road. And […] Read more
Six major feeder cattle market factors to watch
The market will be influenced by a number of developments this year, from American policy decisions to feed prices
Auction markets were closed in Western Canada for the week ending Jan. 3, but that didn’t stop cattle producers from emailing or calling me over the holidays inquiring about market direction. In this article, I’ll discuss six major factors that will influence the feeder cattle market in 2025. The feeder cattle cash and futures markets […] Read more
Environmental focus hurt committee: member
Agricultural groups say proposed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy didn’t focus enough on economic and social pillars
REGINA — The breakdown within the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy’s advisory committee was not a big surprise for Tyler McCann. The managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, who had an advisory role on the committee, said there were issues right from the start. He noted the irony of speaking with a reporter on the […] Read more
Beef sector booms
Alberta’s cattle sector is like a locomotive leaving the station. It has built a full head of steam, the pressures of market forces have reached a boiling point, and it’s heading to a profitable destination in 2025. As the new year arrives, there is no shortage of optimism. “We’re walking into a historic time for […] Read more
